Chicago Rush Game Notes
May 19, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: None
Radio: None
Webcast: www.arenarush.com Les Grobstein
Overall Series Record: This is the first meeting between the teams
Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):
Mike Hohensee (122-96, 12-11 16th season)
Rich Ingold (1-4, 0-0 1st season)
Officials: Mark Windham (Referee), Michael Cooper (Umpire), Glen Fucik (Head Linesman), Anthony Flemming (Line Judge), Lyndon Nixon (Back Judge)
2010 Chicago Rush Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Score TV/Attend
April 2 @ Iowa
* W, 61-43 12,184
April 9 Cleveland
* W, 59-56 8,075
April 17 @ Arizona W, 70-56 14,994
April 23 Utah W, 63-40 7,459
May 1 Bye
May 7 @ Milwaukee
* L, 71-48 5,386
May 15 Iowa
* L, 44-30 10,363
May 22 @ Dallas 7:30 p.m.
May 29 @ Cleveland
* 6 p.m.
June 4 Jacksonville 7 p.m. NFL Net
June 12 @ Utah 8 p.m.
June 19 Milwaukee
* 7 p.m.
June 26 Orlando 7 p.m.
July 2 @ Tampa Bay 7 p.m. NFL Net
July 10 Arizona 7 p.m.
July 17 Dallas 7 p.m.
July 23 @ Spokane 7 p.m. NFL Net
* Midwest Division game
Midwest Division 2010 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
Milwaukee 5-1-0 405 339 2-0
RUSH 4-2-0 331 310 2-2
Cleveland 3-3-0 372 362 1-1
Iowa 3-3-0 309 326 1-3
HEADING TO THE BIG D: The Rush is back on the road this week, heading to Texas to take on the Dallas Vigilantes Saturday night at American Airlines Center. Chicago will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling at home to Iowa last Saturday.
Dallas is in the midst of its second two-game losing streak of the season after falling at Jacksonville 70-49 last weekend.
TRIP TO "THE Q" UP NEXT: Following this week's trip to Dallas, the Rush continues on the road next week, heading east to play the Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday, May 29, at Quicken Loans Arena.
RUSH FALLS TO IOWA: It was an unpleasant homecoming for Chicago Saturday night, as the Rush dropped its second game in a row, falling to the visiting Iowa Barnstormers 44-30 at Allstate Arena.
Much like the previos week's loss in Milwaukee, turnovers were the story for Chicago (4-2), as the Rush turned the ball over four times, including a career-high three interceptions from QB Russ Michna.
Iowa (3-3) scored on its opening play from scrimmage - a 48-yard TD pass from Ryan Vena to Errick McCown - and never looked back, leading every step of the way.
A Chris Gould field goal on the final play of the second quarter cut the Rush deficit to 24-16 at the half, giving the team some momentum at the break. However, for the second week in a row, the Rush struggled mightily in the third quarter.
On its first possession to begin the second half, Michna threw his second interception of the game to Jason Simpson, putting an end to what could have been the game tying drive.
The Barnstormers took advantage as Vena hooked up with wide receiver Todd Blythe for a 12-yard touchdown that put the Barnstormers back up two scores, 31-16.
After a Rush turnover on downs gave the ball back to Iowa, Vena connected with fullback Rodney Filer making the score 38-16 with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rush defense was able to hold the Barnstormers to just six points in the remaining 19 minutes of play, but the offense could not get any closer than eight points.
THREE IS NOT THE CHARM: The Rush enters this week's game at Dallas in the midst of a two-game losing streak. In its nine year history, Chicago has had just four losing streaks of three-games or more - once in 2001 (four games), once in 2003 (three) and twice in 2008 (both three).
DALLAS THE CURE? The last time the Rush had a two-game losing streak was in June of 2008, when the Rush lost back-to-back games at Cleveland and at Georgia. The Rush broke its losing streak the following week with a 75-63 win over the Dallas Desperados.
TURNOVERS LEADING TO TROUBLE: Turnovers are the single biggest reason for Chicago's current two game losing streak, as the Rush has turned the ball over 10 times in the last two games. After throwing just three interceptions in the team's first four games, QB Russ Michna has thrown five interceptions in the past two weeks. Combined with four fumbles and lost possession on a kick that bounced off the Iron, the Rush has given its opponents an average of five extra possessions in each of the last two games.
MICHNA LOOKING TO FIND GROOVE: After opening the season as one of the hottest quarterbacks in the AFL, Rush QB Russ Michna has cooled off the last two weeks. Michna averaged seven touchdown passes and less than one interception per game as the team started 4-0. The last two weeks, however, Michna has tossed just 2.5 TDs per game while throwing 2.5 interceptions per game.
For the season, Michna has completed 115 of 182 passes for 1,718 yards and 33 touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions.
TURNOVER TURNAROUND: After forcing 13 turnovers in the team's first four games - all Chicago wins - the Rush has only forced three turnovers in its last two games. All three of those forced turnovers came last week vs. Iowa, however, the Rush failed to capitalize on any of them, turning the ball over four times itself.
Through six games, the Rush is averaging 2.6 turnovers forced per game. If it continues its current pace, the Rush will finish the season with 42 turnovers forced.
In fact, the defense set a Rush team record with its five interception performance in the April 2 opener at Iowa.
In 2007, the Rush led the AFL in forced turnovers with 44 - 20 fumbles and a league-high 24 interceptions. The following season, the Rush defense forced a total of 33 turnovers, again ranking among the league leaders.
AFL's Single Season Takeaways
Team Season Takeaways
Pittsburgh Gladiators 1988 49
Columbus Destroyers 2006 46
San Jose SaberCats 2008 45
Albany Firebirds 1996 45
Chicago Rush 2007 44
Dallas Desperados 2006 44
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